The government received more than 2,200 applications, totaling more than $28 billion.
"The avalanche of applications has eased concerns that there might not be much interest in the program, which is aimed at driving deployment of high-speed Internet access in underserved areas.
But the government has only $4 billion to dole out right now and just two weeks to decide which projects should be considered. The program, ordered by Congress, will eventually hand out $7.2 billion."